When I was first introduced to PKB this semester I was skeptical. I did not see why I should adopt a new system of keeping track of information or interesting things because I have managed to survive the educational system thus far. As reluctant as I was at first, I got into the habit of using Evernote as my PKB of choice and I soon discovered that it is not so bad. Evernote is a great way to keep organized. I have my own organization scheme that I use to take notes in class. Using Evernote is also more efficient than other forms of note taking; your notes are always a click away. And I can continue to use my lasting resources on Evernote to enhance my future learning.
My favorite part about Evernote is how organized it is. I use books and tags to keep my Evernotes in order. For this class, I have a book titled American Education and in it I have separate notes. I have a new note for each book we discussed in class and within these notes I have different sections for each chapter, followed by bulleted notes. I also have a note where I keep ideas from class discussions and a note for random ideas. Whenever I use the Evernote web clipper I make sure to tag it as American Education and maybe another tag that is more specific to what it is that I am clipping. I also use Evernote for my Educational Psychology course and for that class I have a separate book.
Note taking using Evernote is more beneficial than regular note taking for a couple of reasons. For one, when writing notes down by hand, people often use short hand phrases and slang when they do not have enough time to write their whole idea down. So later, when they go back to find a piece of information that they need to write a paper or just to look smart in class, they do not understand what it is that they meant by their slang and their scribbles on paper lose all value. However, when using Evernote, every thought can be captured and saved for future use because typing is more efficient. Each thought can be more complete and more easily accessible. Another benefit of using Evernote for note taking is that it helps to keep ideas organized. The organization allows the brain to process information fluently and one idea leads or connects to another, therefore optimizing the life and value or each idea. Hand-taken notes do not usually allow this free range of thought and ideas can lose purpose, direction, and their potential to become more than an idea. Both efficiency and organization are the benefits of Evernote that I have come across in my experience this semester. For these reasons, I believe that PKB will heighten my learning in the time to come.
Viewing my notes as a lasting resource on Evernote will enhance my engagement in my future course taking. Even using it for class this semester I found that having my notes in front of me, clear and presentable, helped me to be more active of a thinker. When using Evernote I can pick up from the last thought I had and build upon my previous ideas with new ideas. If someone were to raise an issue worth discussing during class, I could look at my notes and immediately know what thoughts I have on the subject that might round out a quality class discussion. In this way, Evernote has helped create insightful banter and creative thinking in our class, as it will in following discussion-filled courses. If I ever have a topic pop up in a future class that I have already taken notes on with Evernote, I can easily locate my notes and pick up from where I left off, while adding meaningful and purposeful insight to the discussion.
Using a personal knowledge base has opened my mind up to educational possibilities. My go to for the semester was Evernote. The efficiency and organization of PKBs allow for all sorts of open and creative thinking. PKBs can be catered to one’s preferred organization style, allow for easy note taking or citing, and can possibly keep learners engaged and connected throughout their studies. The use of personal knowledge bases in a classroom helps round out a conversation in a way that keeps everyone involved thinking, wondering, and creating. PKBs are great tools for optimal learning.
My favorite part about Evernote is how organized it is. I use books and tags to keep my Evernotes in order. For this class, I have a book titled American Education and in it I have separate notes. I have a new note for each book we discussed in class and within these notes I have different sections for each chapter, followed by bulleted notes. I also have a note where I keep ideas from class discussions and a note for random ideas. Whenever I use the Evernote web clipper I make sure to tag it as American Education and maybe another tag that is more specific to what it is that I am clipping. I also use Evernote for my Educational Psychology course and for that class I have a separate book.
Note taking using Evernote is more beneficial than regular note taking for a couple of reasons. For one, when writing notes down by hand, people often use short hand phrases and slang when they do not have enough time to write their whole idea down. So later, when they go back to find a piece of information that they need to write a paper or just to look smart in class, they do not understand what it is that they meant by their slang and their scribbles on paper lose all value. However, when using Evernote, every thought can be captured and saved for future use because typing is more efficient. Each thought can be more complete and more easily accessible. Another benefit of using Evernote for note taking is that it helps to keep ideas organized. The organization allows the brain to process information fluently and one idea leads or connects to another, therefore optimizing the life and value or each idea. Hand-taken notes do not usually allow this free range of thought and ideas can lose purpose, direction, and their potential to become more than an idea. Both efficiency and organization are the benefits of Evernote that I have come across in my experience this semester. For these reasons, I believe that PKB will heighten my learning in the time to come.
Viewing my notes as a lasting resource on Evernote will enhance my engagement in my future course taking. Even using it for class this semester I found that having my notes in front of me, clear and presentable, helped me to be more active of a thinker. When using Evernote I can pick up from the last thought I had and build upon my previous ideas with new ideas. If someone were to raise an issue worth discussing during class, I could look at my notes and immediately know what thoughts I have on the subject that might round out a quality class discussion. In this way, Evernote has helped create insightful banter and creative thinking in our class, as it will in following discussion-filled courses. If I ever have a topic pop up in a future class that I have already taken notes on with Evernote, I can easily locate my notes and pick up from where I left off, while adding meaningful and purposeful insight to the discussion.
Using a personal knowledge base has opened my mind up to educational possibilities. My go to for the semester was Evernote. The efficiency and organization of PKBs allow for all sorts of open and creative thinking. PKBs can be catered to one’s preferred organization style, allow for easy note taking or citing, and can possibly keep learners engaged and connected throughout their studies. The use of personal knowledge bases in a classroom helps round out a conversation in a way that keeps everyone involved thinking, wondering, and creating. PKBs are great tools for optimal learning.